Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1887-12-28

once, when our little One-Marthy's an mine-you
remember him, Santa CLAUSE"
yes" said Santa Claus "a toddling little boy
with blue eyes,
Like his mother" interrupted Joel; "an' he
was like her, tOo-so gentle an lovin', only we
called HIM Joel, for that my fathers name, and
it kind O. run in the family. He wa mt more'n three
years old when you came with your Christina pres
ents for him, Santa Claus. We had told HIM about
you and he used to to the chimney every night and
make little prayer about what he wanted you to
bring him. And you brought 'em, too-a stick
horse, an picture book, an some blocks an
drum they're on the shelf in the closet there an
his little Christmas stockin' with em-I saved 'em
all, an I've taken 'em down an held 'em in my
hands, oh, so many times!'
but when 1 came again, said Santa Claus
! His little bed was empty an I was alone. 1t
killed his mother Marthy was so tender-hearted;
she kind O. dropped an pined after that. So now
they've been asleep side by side in the buryin'
ground these thirty years.
"That's why I'm so sad like whenever Christmas
comes'' said Joel, after pause. "The thinkin' of
long ago makes me bitter almost. It's so different
from what it used to be-"
"No, JOEL oh, no'' said Santa Claus; "'tis the
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ways will be- But Christmas is for the little folks,
and you, who are old and grizzled now, must know
it and love it only through the gladness it brings
the little ones.'
''True" groaned Joel, "but how may I know
and feel this gladness when have no little stocking
hanging in my chimney corner?-no child to please
me with his prattle? See, am alone"
"No, you're not alone, Joel" said Santa Claus
o+oi+x1
and bless you for your goodness if you but touched
their hearts Make them happy, Joel send by me this
night some gift to the little boy in the old house
yonder. He is poor and sick; simple toy will fill
his Christmas with gladness"
Ellis little sister, too-take her some present, "
said Joel. "Make them happy for me, Santa Claus
you are right; make them happy for me.''
How sweetly Joel slept! When he awoke the
sunlight streamed in through the window and
seemed to bid him a merry Christmas. How con-
tented and happy Joel felt! 1t must have been the
talk with Santa Claus that did it ALL he had never
known a sweeter sense of peace A little girl came
out of the house over the way. She had a new doll
in her arms, and she sang merry little song, and
she laughed with joy she skipped along the street
Ave- and at the window sat the little sick boy and
the toy Santa Claus left him seemed to have brought
him strength ana nealbi LOT Ills eyes spanked anu
his cheeks glowed and it plain to see his heart
was full of happiness
And, oh! how the chimes did ring out, and how
oyfully they sang their Christmas carol that morn
ing! They sang of Bethlehem and the Manager and
the Babe they sang of love and charity till all the
Christmas air seemed full of voices:
Carol of the Christmas morn
Carol of the Christ-chi1d born
Carol of the lstning sky
Till it echoes back again
"Glory be to God on high,
Peace earth, good will towrd men,"
So all this music-the carol of the chimes, the
sound of chdren's voices, the smile of the poor lit